HAL to trace original Pan Am flying boat services with celebratory Caribbean cruise

Holiday America Line is to trace original Pan Am flying boat services on a special 28-day Caribbean cruise.

 

The ship Zuiderdam will visit 18 ports of call, half of which were featured on original Pan Am Clipper routes, with the sailing timed to mark the airline’s 100th anniversary.

 

With boat-like hulls, Clippers - originally designed as ’ships of the air’ - could land on water, enabling access to destinations without established runways. Passengers would disembark at each stop, often staying overnight in local hotels before continuing to the next destination.

 

Setting off from Miami on October 30, 2027, Zuiderdam will sail along Pan Am’s ‘great circle route’ that spanned the entire Caribbean and set the standard for modern travel in the region. 

 

Nine ports that were original Pan Am destinations feature, including: Nassau, San Juan, Charlotte Amlie, St. John’s, Castries, Port of Spain, Colon and Progreso (Merida) and Miami.

 

Zuiderdam will first call into Nassau, Bahamas, one of Pan Am’s earliest Caribbean routes and a cornerstone of regional aviation history. 

 

Other original Pan Am destinations, include San Juan, Puerto Rico, a hub that first linked Pan Am’s Caribbean network to both North and South America. 

 

The ship will also call at Willemstad, Curacao, that served as a strategic refuelling stop during Allied operations in the 1940s. 

 

HAL itinerary planning and deployment vice president Paul Grigsby said: "Pan Am and Holland America Line both helped pioneer modern travel - Pan Am in the skies and Holland America Line at sea. 

 

“With roots that reach back more than a century, both brands share a legacy of connecting people to the world with impeccable service and a spirit of discovery. 

 

"This collaboration is a tribute to the golden age of travel and humanity’s enduring drive to explore. We’re thrilled for our guests to discover new destinations and cultures along this extraordinary itinerary, all while savouring the journey itself, immersed in the nostalgia, comfort and sense of exploration that define a truly legendary voyage.”

 

The special itinerary is part of the cruise line’s commemoration of America’s 250th anniversary. The celebration will include a commemorative cruise departing from Boston on July 4, 2026 as well as partnerships with US brands.

 

HAL chief marketing officer Kacy Cole said: "Pan Am is an iconic American brand and one of several we will be collaborating with as we celebrate American heritage as part of America’s 250th.

 

"As a cruise line with more than 150 years of history sailing, we have a deep appreciation for brands that helped shape the American story. By partnering with these legendary names, we’re honouring the spirit of innovation, adventure and pride that defines the nation - and bringing that legacy to life for our guests."